Paper bag with locking means through slits



Dec. 30, 1958 G. Vw. PoPPE PAPER BAG WITH LOCKING MEANS THROUGH sLITs Filed Oct. 31, 1955 I v vYv AT ToRNE Y5 nited States PAPER BAG WITH LOCKING MEANS THROUGH SLITS Application October 31, 1955, Serial No. 543,839

11 Claims. (Cl. 229-77) This invention relates to paper bags used for holding merchandise which a customer is going to take from a store, or which is to be delivered to a shipping room. 'lhe invention relates more particularly to means for holding the paper bags closed so that merchandise cannot accidentally become displaced from the bag, and so that shop litters who have made a purchase 1n a store cannot open the bag and drop other articles into it.

The invention relates more especially to flat paper bags that have front and rear walls or panels and a flap formed by an extension of the rear panel. ln such bags, the panel having the longitudinal seam is always considered the rear panel, and the flap folds across the top of the front panel and then downwardly over the front of the bag. Some bags have a ilap which comprises not only an extension of the rear panel but also an extension of the front panel above the fold that joins the flap to the bag. Such an extension of the front Wall is shorter than the extension of the rear Wall so as to leave a lip of the rearwall part of the flap extending beyond the forward part of the nap.

lt is an object of this invention to provide an improved bag of the character indicated, with spaced groups of slits through which a locking element is inserted to keep the bag closed.

In every store and mail order house, there are quantities of waste cardboard, and it is another object of this invention to provide a paper bag with a cardboard locking element which can be made from such waste cardboard. The only cost of the locking element, therefore, when using such waste material, is the labor involved in preparing the locking elements from'the waste ma terial. This can be done with the aid of a machine, and what little expense is involved is more than offset for the savings eiected by this invention.

One of the principal economies resulting from this invention is the use of less expensive bags. The invention makes it practical to use bags which are of lighter paper stock. Where bags are used with a long flap which foldsy over to close the bag, this invention makes it practical to use bags with much smaller flaps and bottoms and the saving in paper further reduces the cost of the bags.

Other important advantages and economies resulting j from the use of this invention are the elimination of losses which result from merchandise accidentally coming out of the containers in which they are enclosed; and reduction in shoplifting losses in stores which display -small articles that the shoplifters can drop into bags with previously made purchases.

It is another object of the invention to providenovel shapes of locking elements for insertion into groups of slits through a bag for holding the bag closed more effectively. Onefeature of the invention relates to constructions by which the locking element can be inserted quickly and conveniently into the slits and by which the edges of the slits pull together throughout a portion of the slit height to prevent removal of the locling element.

atent Other objects, features and advantages vvof `the ,inven-f tion will appear or be pointed out as the descriptionr proceeds.

1n the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which likel reference characters indicate corresponding "parts in' allv the views, t t

Figure l is a view of the front of a bag with a closed flap and with the bag held closed by' aclosngelement made in accordance with this invention; 7

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional ,view tal'en on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; f l

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3*-3 of Figure l; 1'" f Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the head of a locking element passes through the slits in the bag; f

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the way in which the upper and lower edge portions of the slits close in' behind the shoulders ofthe lockingv element to prevent" panels. The bag has a ap 17 which is inthe position indicated by dotted lines when the bag-15 is originally supplied to the store. In order toA close the bag,V the lflap is folded along a transverse fold line 1 9ii1to theV position shown in solid lines in Figure l.Y

The ap 17 may be an extension of onlythe 'rear panel of the bag 15 and in such case thebag may have a lar'ge bottom or the bag `may have the front and rear panels bothextending above the fold line 19, as shown inFig'- ure l, and in this latter ca se the flap' 17 consists ofeirtensions of both the panels whichfold forwardlyland` downwardly at the fold line 19.

In the constructionshown in'elevation inFigur'e l and l shown on an enlarged scale in section in Figure 12tlf1e rear panel of the bag is indicated by the referencecharacter 21 and the front panelby the reference character '22. rihe tlap 17 comprises an extension 23= of the front panel 22, and an extension 24 of the rear panel'21.

There are slits 26 in the two walls formed bythe extensions 23 and 24 of the ap 17, and'ther'e :are'sim'ila'r slits through the rear and front panels2 1and 22 'of-'the' bag in position to be in substantial register ywithfthe slits 26 in the ap `17 when theapiis'gfolded down'- wardly into position to close the bag. Theserslits 2,6, in substantial alignment with one` another, form. one group of slits which produce an opening through the llap 17 and all the way through the bag 15;"3There are other slits 27 in the tlap 17 in position tosubstant-ially register with corresponding slits 27 in the rearla'nd frorit panels of the bag 15 when the ap r17 isin closed position. These slits 27 form a groupl providing anopening extending all the wayvthrough theftlap 17.and the bag 15; and this group ofr slits 27 -is'spaced from the group'of slits 26, preferably vin a direction transversey ofthe bag 15.' 1

A locking element30, of substantially.` greater length than the distance between the groupsof slits -26 andll, is wovenfthrough the slits by being inserted rthrough Athe group of slits 27 in a rearwardlyuextending direction and then passed across the rear of lthey bag 15 and'inr serted through the group of slits 26vi1`1ha` `,forwardlyex- `and also at the bottom.

`The locking element 301s made withpoiiite'd arrowi heads 32 on both ends, and with a mid portionsor cons.

necting portion 34 extending between the arrow heads 32and of substantially less height thanflthe shank 'ends of the arrow heads 32. The connecting portion34, ofl

the locking `elementll, has a height equal to about one half that ofthe shank ends of the arrow heads 32. This proportion has proven efficient and effective in use because it leaves enough height in the connecting portion to retain the rigidity of the lockingelement 30 and at` the same timeprovides shoulders of substantial width at the inner or shank ends of the 'arrow heads 32.

AThe heightpfthe ,arrow heads 32, at their inner or shank ends, is` substantially equal to` the height of the slits 26 and 27, but must notlin any event be more than slightly `greater `thanithe heights of the slits since this would make it `impossible to insert the arrow heads through the slits without tearing the paper of which the baglS` ismade. If only slightly greater than the slit height, the arrow head `can be inserted, as will be explained in connection with Figures 6-8.

Figure 4 shows the way in which the confronting faces ofthe slits are `thrust apart by passage of the arrow head 32. As `progressively higher sections of the arrow head 32 enter the slits 26, the `confronting edges at the upper and `lower ends of the slits are caused to diverge from one another, out of the normal plane of the flap 17. The term ,slitl is used herein to designate an opening through` thepaper of `the bag made by severing the paper along a line without removing any material from betweenthe confronting faces of the cut. Slits have a number of `important advantages over slots from which paper is removed. In the .manufacture of the bags, the bag-making machinery can be operated at much` higher speed when there is no waste material to be disposed of. Whenever `a bagtconstruction calls for the punching of slotsywith resulting waste punchings, it is necessary to accommodate the `speedof the machine to the rate at which the` punchingsycan` be disposed of reliably and without danger ofoccasional accumulations which require shut down of the machine. s

A more important` advantage of the slit construction ofthis invention is that` the confronting faces of the slits come together at a point at the top of each slit, In order to insert a locking element through the slit,` the confronting faces must be displacedfrom one another forward and aft out of the plane of the panels of the bag. This places the confronting edges ,ing angular relation which results from aslightbendingf the paper, and the resilience of the paper `tends toatten out the displaced portions as soon astthe force causing ,the displacement is removed.

Thus passage of the arrow head` 32 beyond the group of slits 26 permits the confronting edges to move into positions of reduced angularrelation to one another so that the edgeofthe slit beyond the arrow head 32 pulls inwardly across the back lof the shoulder formed by the shank end offthe arrow head 32, as shown inFigure 5. This prevents the arrow head from moving back again, because the shoulder, indicated by the reference character 36, comes againstthe edge face of the sltbehind it, and there isxno `componentofforce formoving the edge of therslit outwardly to let the arrow come back through the slits 26. 1

`All of the` thicknesses of paper through which the lockingrellement 30 extends are shown in the drawing. and `Figures `3 and 5 show clearly the way in which part of the edge faces of the` slits are located behind the shoulder 36` l When the locking element 30' is inserted through the groups ofv slits 26 and 27, some additional running clearance is ob'tained by having the locking element at a slight angle as shown in Figures 6-S. In the ordinary use of the invention, the user will almost always insert the locking elements 30 in a directionwhich is not quote normal to the direction in which the slits 26 and 27 extend, unless special care is taken to hold the locking element 30 at right angles to the direction of the slits. The advantage ot' having the locking element at an angle, as it enters the slits 27, is shown clearly by comparing the successive positions of the locking element shown in Figures 6-8.

Figure 6 shows the point of the locking element 30 inserted through the group of slits 27. Figure 7 shows the locking element 30 after it has been pushed further into the groups of slits 27 and this figure illustrates that the bottom or lower end of the shoulder 36 passes the bottoms of the slits 27 before the maximum height of the locking element 30 reaches the slits 27. Thus even though the maximum height of the arrow head 32 is very slightly greater than the height of the slits 27, it can pass through the slits when the locking element is tilted into a position such as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows the locking element 30 after it has been pushed still further into the group of slits 27 Since the lower shoulder 36 has already passed beyond the group of slits 27, the locking element 30 can move downwardly as necessary in order to permit the upper end of the upper shoulder 36 to pass the upper ends of the slits 27.

The angular position of the locking element 30 is exaggerated in Figures 6-8 to more clearly illustrate the principle whereby the upper and lower shoulders 36 pass the corresponding ends of the slits 27 at different times. In actual practice, the width of the connecting portion 34 of the locking element, and the distance between the groups lof slits 26 and 27, usually make it impossible to turn the locking element 30 to an angle as oblique as that illustrated in Figures 6-8 when passing through the second group of slits 26.

When inserting the lockingl element 30 through the first group of slits, there is no limit on the obliqueness with which it may be presented to the slits, but after it has passed through one group of slits, it can be moved into only a slightly oblique :angle to the other group of slits because the upper and lower edges of the connecting portion 34 come into contact with the upper and lower ends of the rst group of slits to limit the angular move ment of the locking element.

Figure 9 shows a modified construction for the locking element. In this figure a locking element 40 has an arrow head 42 with shoulders 44 at its rearward end; and these shoulders 44 are made with a rake so that they act as barbs for preventing the locking element from being pulled back through a group of slits after the arrow head has once been inserted through the slits.

This construction shown in Figure 9 makes it considerably more difficult to remove the locking element from the slits. A straight shoulder such as shown on the preceding gures is preferred in most instances because the bags must eventually be opened in order to let the customer remove the contents. The locking element 30, shown in Figures 1 8, with the straight shoulders 36, holds the bag closed with an effectiveness which prevents accidental opening of the bag and which prevents a shoplifter from opening the bag` unnoticed preparatory to dropping a stolen article into the bag. However, a customer can manipulate the edges of the slits so as to clear the shoulders 36 of the locking element 30 much more easily than when the arrow has barbed ends such as provided by the shoulders 44 in Figure 9.

The locking elements of this invention are preferably made of cardboard, and the bag can be opened by tearing the arrow head 32 otf the connecting portion 34 of vafter it has passed through a group of-slits. necessary to limit the extent to which the locking element j the locking element. The cardboarduis heavy enough so `that this wouldv not happen accidentally, and it could not 'be done by a shoplifter without attracting attention. 'Cardboard having a thickness of from $454 to 176,2 of an "inch'has been found sufficiently strong and stiff to make ing element has been considered for preventing the forward end of the llocking yelement from pulling back It is also can be inserted into the slits since free passage of the entire length of the llocking element through the slits would be just as objectionable as reverse movement of the locking element out of the slits.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, both ends of the locking element 30 are provided with arrow heads 32, and the right hand orrearward arrow head 32 has shoulders 36 which contact with the edges of the slits 27 to limit the forward movement of the locking element in the'same way that the shoulders of the arrow at ythe left hand` end of the locking element prevent backward movement of the locking element after it has been inserted.

Although not essential, better results are 'obtained if the ditference between the shoulders of the arrow heads 32 is only slightly greater than, or equal to, the spacing of the slits 26 from the slits 27.

With this construction, very little of the connecting 'portion 34 extends beyond the far sides of the groups of slits 26 and 27, and thismakes the shoulders of the arrow heads catch more eifectively against the edge faces near the upper and lower ends of the slits.

Figure shows another construction in Which a locking element 50 has a tapered shank 52 extending from an arrow head 54. At the rearward end of the arrow head 54, the tapered shank 52 has a height substantially corresponding to that of the connecting portion 34 of the locking element 30 shown in Figure 1; but from this height at the rearward end of the arrow head 54, the height of the shank 52increases progressively so that its height at the end most remote from the arrow head 54 is substantially greater than the height of the slits 27. The locking element 50, therefore, can only be pushed through the slits 27 until the height of the locking ele-` ment in the slits becomes as great as the height of the slits 27. Another modification in the construction of the locking element 5l) is the oli-setting of the shoulders at the shank end of the arrow head 54. The arrow head illustrated is longer at the top than at the bottom and provides an upper shoulder 56 which is further from the point of the arrow than is a lower shoulder S7.

This construction permits the arrow head to go through slits 26 and 27 which are of less height. -It is suiiicient for the slit height to be equal to the vertical dimension of the arrow head at shoulder 56 or at the shoulder 57, whichever is of the greater height. The locking element 50 is preferably made so that the height at both of these shoulders is substantially equal. The reduced height of the slits in Figure l0, in proportion to the height of the arrow head 54, makes the locking element 50 more ditcult to remove than in the locking element 30 of Figure l.

The locking element 50 is designed so that the tapered edges of its shank portion diverge at a rate to reach the height of the slits 27 just after the last shoulder 56 of the arrow head 54 passes through the-slits 26. This locking element 59 cannot possibly be removed toward the left Without tearing the paper, or tearing or doubling over the cardboard of the locking element at its right hand end. At itsother end it operatesv in a manner smilar to the locking element 30 of the previous figures, and

it can be backed out of the slits by carefully manipulating the edges of the slits so as to let the shoulders ofthe arrow pass, but the reduced height of the slits in Figure 10 makes removal more diicult as already explained. The locking element 50 has the disadvantage,

whenthe groups of slits are widely spaced and the taper is quite`r gradual, that a wedge action of the tapered edgesof the locking element lshank may tear the slits 27 when used with paper bags made of thin stock.

The groups of slits 26 and 27 are spaced from the fold line 19 and are preferably located about midway t between the fold line 19 and the lower edge of the flap 17. In the constructions illustrated, the slits 26 and 27 extend at right angles to the fold line 19. This is the preferred construction but the slits can be at an acute angle to the fold line 19. They are preferably parallel to one another. It is advantageous to have the groups of slits 26 and 27 spaced from one another in directions transverse of the bag because the location of one group of slits at a substantially lower level than the other, Iin the direction of the length of the bag, requires that Vthe ybag and Hap be made longer or reduces the capacity of the bag by bringing the locking means to a much lower level on the bag.

It is important that lthe groups of slits 26 and 27 extend all the Way through the ap and bag, that is, through the front panel ofthe bag as well as through the rear panel. The reason for this is that the locking element is easily insertedthrough the groups of slits if the group or' slits areY accessible at both sides to the person inserting they locking element. It is a simple matter to manipulate gthe groups of slits so as to open them for receiving the locking element, but if the rear panel of the bag were unslitted and the locking element had to be woven through the slits in the ap Vand front panel without coming through the rear panel, it would be a diicult manipulation to insert the locking element partly because the inner ends of the group of strips would not be accessible to the fingers when the flap was closed yand partly because the operator could not clearly see what he was doing when attempting to Weave the locking element into the second group of slits.

The preferred construction of the invention has been illustrated and described, and some modifi-cations have been shown, but other modifications and changes can be made land some features can be used in different combinations without departing from the invention as dened in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A paper bag for holding merchandise, said bag having a plurality of thicknesses of paper including front and rear panels and a top ap hinged to the upper end of at least the rear panel and adapted to fold over the other panel and down along said other panel to close the bag, at least two groups of slits spaced from one another and extending through 'both the front and rear panels, the slits in each group forming an opening through the bag, similar slits in the top ap in position adjacent to those in the panels to extend the opening through the flap when the Hap is folded down into closed position, the groups of slits being' spaced from one another, a locking element made of separate material from the bag and stiffer than the bag and extending through a plurality of the thicknesses of paper at one group of slits and through a plurality of the thicknesses of paper at the other group'of slits, the locking element being longer than the spacing of the groups of slits from one another, end portions on the locking element having a height substantially equal to the height of the slits, and slits of each group having confronting edges severed directly from one another without removal of intervening material so thatthe confronting edges of the slit meet with one another at juncture points at the upper and lower ends of each slit, at

least one of the end portions tapering to a reduced width at its front end to facilitate insertion into the slits and having an abrupt change in width providing a shoulder in position to catch on edges of the slits where they converge adjacent to said juncture points to prevent the locking element from being pulled back through the slits.

2. The paper bag described in claim 1 and in which the locking element `is made of cardboard, and the locking element has an abrupt increase in width in position to engage edges of the first group of slits to limit the extent to which the locking element can be inserted through the groups of slits in a forward direction.` y c 3. The paper bag described `in claim l and in which the slits in the panels extend downwardly away from the tiap fold and havetheir upper ends spaced from the fold line, and the groups of slits arevspaced from one another in a direction parallel to the fold line along which the flap is connected to the rear panel of the bag.

4. The, paper bag described in claim 3 and in which the locking element has a point at itscforward end which is inserted through the group of slits, and there is a second abrupt change in the height of the locking element at a position to engage the edges of the tirst group of slits when the pointed end of the locking element has passed beyond the second group of slits.

5. The paper bag described in claim 3 and in which the locking element has both ends in the shape of arrow heads with the shank ends of the arrow heads of a height substantially equal to the height of the slits, the shank ends of the arrow heads being spaced from one another by a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the groups of slits from one another so that the shoulders at the shank ends of the arrow heads abut against edge faces of the respective groups of slits to prevent movement of the locking element either: way `inthe direction of the length of `the locking element after it has been inserted through the groups of slits.

6. The paper bag described in claim 3 and in which the forward end of thelocking element is pointed for insertion through the groups of slits, and in which there is an abrupt increase in the height of the locking element to provide shoulders at the top and bottom of the locking element at a location to engage faces `of the slits of the first group when the pointed forward end of the locking element has been inserted far enough through the slits of the second group to bring the abrupt change in height of the locking element at the forward end beyond the slits of the first group.

7. A paper bag for merchandise, said bag having front and rear panels, a group of slits in the bag including a slit extending through the front panel and a similar slit extending through the rear panel near the slit in the front panel, another group of slits in the front and rear panel, similar to the slits of the first group and spaced therefrom in a direction transverse of the length of the bag, a locking element separate and independent from the bag and of substantially greater length than the' distance between the groups of slits, the locking element being woven through one group of slits in one direction and extending across the other side of the bag and then through the second group of slits in the opposite direction and having end portions beyond both groups of slits of substantially the same height as the slits, and slits of each group having confronting edges severed directly from one another without removal of intervening material so that the confronting edges of the slit meet with one another at juncture points at the upper and lower ends of each slit, and the locking element having an abrupt reduction in height at both the top and the bottom of the end portions and just beyond the groups of slits so that the abrupt changes in height form shoulders on the locking element in position to contact with the edges of the slits where they converge adjacent to said juncture points for preventing movenient of the locking element either way in the direction of the length of the locking element.

8. The paper bag described in claim 7 and in which the locking element is made of substantially heavier paper stock than the material of the bag and the locking element is pointed at both ends ina shape of arrow heads, and the rearward end of each arrow head forms the shoulders for preventing the locking element from being displaced in the direction of its length after it has been woven through the slits.

9. The paper bag described in claim 7 and in which the locking element is made of cardboard so that it can be constructed from waste material around a shipping room or store, and the locking element is pointed at its forward end and has the shoulders in position to constitute the pointed end an arrow head, and in which the portion of the locking element beyond the arrow head tapers to a progressively greater height toward its rearward end and has a height substantially equal to the height of the first group of slits at a distance from the arrow head slightly greater than the spacingof the groups of slits from one another.

l0. An envelope bag made of paper and having front and rear panels and a top ap hinged to the upper ends of the panels and made up of extensions of both the front and rear panels, slits through the rear panel, the front panel and the ap with said slits in substantial register with one another and forming a group which provides an opening through which a locking member can pass, another group of slits through the panels and flap and similar to the slits of the iirst group, the slits of each group being spaced from the fold line which joins the ap to the panels of the bag and being spaced from one another in a direction transverse of the top-to-bottom length of the bag, a locking element independent of and unconnected to the bag, said locking element being longer than the space between the groups of slits and woven through one group of slits from front to back and then through the other group of slits from back to front of the bag whereby any pull on the locking element by the top iiap is transverse of the locking element, the locking element having end portions of a height substantially equal to the height of the slits, and slits of each group having confronting edges severed directly from one another without removal of intervening material so that the confronting edges of the slit meet with one another at juncture points at the upper and lower ends of each slit, at least the forward end of the locking element tapering to a reduced width at its front end for convenient insertion through the groups of slits, and the locking element having an abrupt change in height at a distance back from the forward end providing shoulders for'abutment with the upper and lower portions of an edge of the slits of the second group where they converge adjacent to said juncture points to prevent retrograde movement of the locking element after it has been inserted through the second group far enough to carry the shoulders past said second group of slits.

ll. The envelope bag described in claim 10 and in which the slits of both groups extend downwardly away from the flap fold and the slits have their upper ends spaced from the fold line of the flap and the groups of slits are spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the ap fold, the locking element being separate and independent of the material of the bag and made of paper stock substantially heavier than the material of which the bag is made, and the locking element having an increase in height to a value greater than the height of the slits at a location substantially even with the iirst group of slits when the locking element has been inserted through the second group of slits far enough to carry the shoulders beyond said second group of slits.

9 UNITED STATES PATENTS Andrews June 11, 1935 Rosenfeld Dec. 10, 1935 Quackenbush Jan. 1, 1946 Bossart May 13, 1952 5 McFarland et al Sept. 22, 1953 Poppe Dec. 13, 1954 10 FOREIGN PATENTS I Great Britain 1913 France June 16, 1916 France Jan. 25, 1922 

